At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead quality engineering efforts, designing tools and frameworks for high-quality solutions.
- Company: Join The Very Group, a company dedicated to helping families thrive with flexible payment options.
- Benefits: Enjoy a hybrid working model, £1,000 benefits allowance, 30 days holiday, and discounts on products.
- Other info: Inclusive employer offering support for diverse needs throughout the application process.
- Why this job: Be part of a collaborative culture focused on continuous improvement and technical excellence.
- Qualifications: Experience in QA engineering, cloud services, and a passion for code quality are essential.
The predicted salary is between 48000 - 84000 £ per year.
Internal use only - Grade E
About us.
We are The Very Group and we’re here to help families get more out of life. We know that our customers work hard for their families and have a lot to balance in their busy lives. That’s why we combine amazing brands and products with flexible payment options on Very.co.uk to help them say yes to the things they love. We’re just as passionate about helping our people get more out of life too; building careers with real growth, a sense of purpose, belonging and wellbeing.
About the role.
We’re looking for an experienced Principal QA Engineer to join our technology team and help shape the future of quality engineering at The Very Group.
As a Principal QA Engineer, you’ll lead the QA approach within an agile squad, ensuring that products meet the highest standards for quality, compliance, and customer experience. You’ll play a key role in ensuring adherence to our delivery framework and SDLC principles, while driving an automation-first approach across all functional and non-functional testing.
You’ll work closely with the Performance Unit QA Engineering Manager, Engineers, and other stakeholders to embed quality throughout the product lifecycle, championing modern testing practices and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.
Key Responsibilities:
- Lead and develop the QA capability within your squad in line with The Very Group’s tech standards.
- Ensure a Test-Driven approach is adopted for all work.
- Drive an automation-first strategy for functional and non-functional testing.
- Oversee preparation, documentation, and evidence capture for all QA activities.
- Own the overall test plan and test approach, taking full accountability for its successful delivery.
- Work closely with the offshore resource management team to coach and mentor team members, fostering growth and alignment with The Very Group’s standards and values.
- Promote a value-add approach in all delivery activities.
- Review lessons learned and share insights across squads and the QA community.
- Collaborate with engineers and stakeholders to prevent defects and improve quality throughout the SDLC.
About you
You’re a hands-on QA leader with a passion for quality and a proven track record in delivering robust, compliant, and high-performing solutions. You thrive in agile environments and enjoy influencing teams to adopt best practices in testing and automation.
What you’ll bring
- 5+ years of QA and testing experience at both leadership and practitioner levels.
- Proven expertise in software testing and modern QA methodologies.
- Strong experience delivering within an SDLC framework, ensuring compliance with regulatory and governance standards.
- Experience in any of Financial Services, Retail and Logistics would be beneficial
- Strong interpersonal skills with a curious, collaborative mindset.
- Experience leading and influencing teams in QA best practices.
- Strong exploratory and technical testing skills.
- Experience with Test-Driven approaches (ATDD, BDD, TDD).
- Proficiency in at least one programming language for automation, with the ability to learn others.
- Experience with API testing tools (Postman, Swagger, SOAPUI, Karate).
- Strong knowledge of non-functional testing, particularly performance and security.
Some of our benefits
- Flexible, hybrid working model
- Inclusive culture and environment, check out our Glassdoor reviews
- £1000 flexible benefits allowance to suit your needs
- 30 days holiday + bank holidays
- LinkedIn learning access
- Bonus potential (performance and business-related)
- Up to 25% discount on Very.co.uk
- Matched pension up to 6%
- More benefits can be found on our career site
How to apply
Please note that the talent acquisition team are managing this vacancy directly, and if successful in securing this role, you will be required to undertake a credit, CIFAS, Right to Work checks and if a specific requirement of your role a DBS (criminal records) check. Should your application progress we require you to let the team know if there is anything you need to disclose in relation to any of these checks prior to them being undertaken, including any unspent criminal convictions.
Equal opportunities
We’re an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate based on race, religion, colour, national origin, sex, gender, gender expression, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status.
We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.
Principal QA Engineer in Liverpool employer: The Very Group
The Very Group is an exceptional employer that fosters a collaborative and innovative work culture, perfect for aspiring finance professionals. Located in the vibrant East Midlands, we offer comprehensive employee growth opportunities, including training and development programmes, alongside competitive benefits that support work-life balance. Join us to be part of a dynamic team where your contributions directly impact our financial success and operational excellence.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Principal QA Engineer in Liverpool
✨Join Local Tech Meetups
Get out there and mingle with fellow developers by joining local tech meetups. It’s a fantastic way to meet people who might be working at The Very Group or know someone who does. Plus, you can pick up some trendy tech skills and trends while you're at it!
✨Contribute to Open Source Projects
Show off your coding chops by jumping into open-source projects. Not only does this give you practical experience, but it also gets you noticed in the dev community. You'll create a killer portfolio that speaks volumes about your skills to The Very Group.
✨Tap into Online Developer Communities
Don’t underestimate the power of online developer communities like GitHub, Stack Overflow, and even Reddit. Participate in discussions, share your projects, and build your visibility. We can often find opportunities through these channels that can lead to a full-time gig at companies like The Very Group.
✨Explore Job Boards Specifically for Tech Roles
Keep your eyes peeled on job boards that focus on tech roles. Sites like TechCareers or Stack Overflow Jobs can often have listings for companies like The Very Group that might not show up on broader job sites. Make it a habit to check these regularly, and don’t hesitate to apply directly through our website!
We think you need these skills to ace Principal QA Engineer in Liverpool
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show off your coding skills:When applying for a software engineering role, it's super important to showcase your coding skills. Make sure your CV includes your tech stack, any relevant programming languages you’re comfortable with, and examples of projects you've worked on. If you have a GitHub profile, link it up! We love to see code in action.
Tailor your portfolio:For a full-time role, we’d expect to see some solid examples of your work in your portfolio. Make sure to include at least two or three projects that highlight your problem-solving skills and your ability to work with different technologies. Focus on the projects that are most relevant to the position at The Very Group.
Craft a killer cover letter:Your cover letter is your chance to stand out—make it personal! Explain why you want to work at The Very Group and how your skills align with the role. Show us your passion for software development. We dig enthusiastic candidates who understand the value of collaboration and continuous learning!
Be clear and concise:When it comes to writing your CV and cover letter, clarity is key. Avoid jargon that could confuse us and stick to simple, direct language. Highlight your achievements with quantifiable results where possible, and keep everything easy to read. A well-organised application goes a long way!
How to prepare for a job interview at The Very Group
✨Brush Up on Your Coding Skills
For a full-time software engineering role, it's crucial that we stay sharp with our coding abilities. Expect technical questions that might involve solving problems on the spot or discussing algorithms. Practise on platforms like LeetCode or HackerRank to get comfortable with the types of questions that often come up.
✨Know Your Tools and Frameworks
Make sure we’re well-acquainted with the tools and technologies listed in the job description. Familiarise ourselves with any specific frameworks or programming languages mentioned. If The Very Group uses React or Node.js, for instance, be ready to discuss how we’ve used them in previous projects or coursework.
✨Showcase Your Projects
Bring along a portfolio that highlights our best work. This could be code samples, GitHub repositories, or any side projects we’ve built. Make sure we can talk through our thought process for each project, especially the challenges we faced and how we solved them—this shows our problem-solving skills in action.
✨Prepare for Behavioural Questions
While technical skills are key, full-time positions also require cultural fit. Be ready to discuss our previous experiences and how we handle teamwork, conflict, and deadlines. Brush up on the STAR method—Situation, Task, Action, Result—to clearly articulate our past experiences when discussing how we've contributed to a team.
